This week, strategy+business published an important article on a topic fundamental to higher ambition firms—how companies can build deep trust based partnerships with their stakeholders to sustainably deliver superior economic and social value. Founding CHL member company Henry Schein Inc., the focus of the article, is a shining example of this kind of long-term value creation. As members heard through a recent CHL Learning Visit, the company has delivered consistent, strong results with its multi-constituency approach.
The authors– Allison Neale, Director of Public Policy at Henry Schein, and Kate Isaacs, an Executive Fellow at the Center for Higher Ambition Leadership — use Henry Schein’s stakeholder strategy to illustrate how organizations can align a firm’s purpose, strategy, culture, and executional capacities. They provide practical and specific guidance on:
- What distinguishes a partnership model from a transactional model
- The role of employee engagement in creating a strong partnership culture
- How to create meaning and clarity around an organization’s purpose
- The power of setting far-reaching “meta-goals”
- Social initiatives that engage customers and partners in Henry Schein’s business